US2014095349A1PendingUtilityA1
System and Method for Facilitating Social E-Commerce

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 14, 2012Filed: Sep 16, 2013Published: Apr 3, 2014
Est. expirySep 14, 2032(~6.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James L. Mabrey Robert C. Brooks Jarrod Brooks
G06Q 10/40G06Q 30/0633G06Q 30/0641G06Q 30/0643G06Q 50/01
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Claims
Abstract

A software application providing a social, interactive panoramic shopping experience from pictures. The experience should be based upon navigable panoramic spaces from photographs that include the capability for users to interact socially and individually with particular elements within that space
Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for facilitating social e-commerce, comprising:
 creating a first store panoramic image containing a first item from a first store;   creating a first image of the first item from the first store from a first perspective; and   embedding a first hotspot in the first store panoramic image coupled to a position of the first item from the first store in the first store panoramic image;   allowing a first user to move the first store panoramic image, thereby simulating moving around the first store.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a first image of a second item from the first store from the first perspective; and   providing a virtual rack room;   wherein the virtual rack room contains the first image of the first item from the first store and the first image of the second item from the first store, both images partially overlapped so the first item from the first store and the second item from the first store appear to be displayed on a combined rack.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , the step of creating a first store panoramic image comprising:
 stitching a first partial panoramic image to a second partial panoramic image; and   blending the first partial panoramic image to the second partial panoramic image.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a second image of the first item from the first store from a second perspective; and   combining the first image of the first item from the first store and the second image of the first item from the first store to create a panoramic view of the first item;   wherein the panoramic view of the first item from the first store allows a user to see all sides of the first item.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 allowing a second user to move the first store panoramic image thereby simulating moving around the first store; and   providing a communication tool to allow communication between the first user and the second user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a second store panoramic image containing a first item from a second store;   creating a first image of the first item from the second store from the first perspective; and   embedding a first hotspot in the second store panoramic image coupled to a position of the first item from the second store in the second store panoramic image;   allowing the first user to move the second store panoramic image, thereby simulating moving around the second store;   providing a master shopping cart, wherein the first user can purchase items from the first store and the second store in a single transaction.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 allowing the second user to make suggestions to the first user about the first item; and   providing the second user with a way to purchase the first item for the first user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a first image of a second item from the first store from the first perspective; and   providing a virtual dressing room   producing a first virtual outfit from the first image of the first item from the first store and the first image of the second item from the first store;   wherein the virtual dressing room contains the first image of the first item from the first store, the first image of the second item from the first store, and the first image of the third item from the first store; and   wherein the first user can position the first image of the first item relative to the first image of the second item.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 allowing the user to provide a copy of the first virtual outfit to a social media site.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a first series of panoramic images related to a first floor of the first store;   creating a second series of panoramic images related to a second floor of the first store;   allowing the first user to roam the first series of panoramic images, thereby simulating moving around the first floor of the first store; and   allowing the first user to roam the second series of panoramic images, thereby simulating moving around the second floor of the first store;   wherein the first item is located somewhere either in the first series of panoramic images or the second series of panoramic images.   
     
     
         11 . A system for facilitating social e-commerce, the system comprising:
 an imaging system, for creating an image of a panoramic space and for creating an image of an item for sale;   a computer system, for storing the image of the panoramic space and for storing the image of an item for sale; and   a software system, for combining the image of the panoramic space and the image of the item for sale so that a first user can shop virtually for the item for sale in the panoramic space.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , the imaging system comprising:
 a spherical video camera;   wherein the spherical video camera allows for frequent navigation points, creating the illusion of free movement within the panoramic space.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , the computer system comprising:
 a first networked computer, for storing the image of the panoramic space and for storing the image of the item for sale; and   a second networked computer for the first user;   wherein the first user utilizes the second networked computer in networked communications with the first networked computer to view, interact, and purchase the item for sale.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , the computer system further comprising:
 a third networked computer for a second user;   wherein the second user utilizes the third networked computer in networked communications with the first networked computer and the second networked computer to view, interact, and purchase the item for sale; and   wherein the second networked computer and the third networked computer are coupled so that the first user and the second user can communicate directly between each other.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , the software system comprising:
 a first program to stitch a first partial panoramic image to a second partial panoramic image; and   a second program to blend the first partial panoramic image to the second partial panoramic image.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein first networked computer and the second networked computer are configured to allow social interaction between the first user and the second user. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the second networked computer comprises:
 a tablet, comprising;
 a touch screen, for allowing the first user to interact and move about the panoramic space; 
 a camera, for taking pictures of the first user to be transmitted; 
 a microphone; 
 a speaker; 
 a storage device, for locally storing information; and 
 a network device, for allowing the tablet to be in digital communications with the first networked computer. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method for facilitating social e-commerce, comprising:
 creating a first image of a first item from a first store;   removing the background from the first image of a first item from a first store;   creating a first image of a first item from a second store;   removing the background from the first image of a first item from a second store;   providing a virtual dressing room; and   producing a first virtual outfit from the first image of the first item from the first store and the first image of the first item from the second store;   wherein the virtual dressing room contains the first image of the first item from the first store, and the first image of the first item from the second store; and   wherein a first user can position the first image of the first item from the first store relative to the first image of the first item from the second.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 creating a first image of a second item from a first store;   allowing a second user to change the first image of the first item from the first store to the first image of the second item from the first store; and   providing a communication tool to allow social interaction between the first user and the second user.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a master shopping cart, wherein the first user can purchase items from the first store and the second store in a single transaction.
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